Illinois Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger holds news conference to discuss the impact of the continuing budget impasse on state finances at James R. Thompson Center in Chicago on Wednesday, September 9, 2015.

Illinois Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger holds news conference to discuss the impact of the continuing budget impasse on state finances at James R. Thompson Center in Chicago on Wednesday, September 9, 2015.

A group of House Democrats on Friday sued the Illinois comptroller to move back to the front of a long line to get paid by the state, arguing a decision by Republican Leslie Geissler Munger to delay their paychecks during the state's historic budget impasse is illegal and politically motivated.

The lawmakers' attorneys contend the move violates the separation of executive and legislative powers, saying Munger's actions "are a direct threat" to the legislature's independence.

"By denying the members of the General Assembly their salary, the comptroller is attempting to force the General Assembly to forgo representing the interests of their constituents and accede to the policy preferences of an executive office that has no formal role in the legislative process," attorneys said in the complaint filed in Cook County.

They cited an effort by then-Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn in 2013 to completely withhold pay that was ruled unconstitutional, and pointed to provisions in the Illinois Constitution that say lawmakers cannot have their salaries changed during their terms and another law that requires they be paid in 12 equal monthly installments.

While Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner is not named in the suit, Democrats suggested Munger is acting at Rauner's behest to build pressure on them to cave to his demands amid the record-breaking budget dispute. Rauner criticized the suit Friday afternoon as he continued to assign blame on Democrats led by House Speaker Michael Madigan for the state's lack of a complete spending plan.

"Legislators are insisting that even though they're not doing their jobs passing budgets and reforms, they want to get paid. Wow. Good grief," Rauner told reporters after speaking to the Illinois Manufacturers' Association luncheon at a Loop hotel.

The timing of the lawsuit is odd, coming just days before Republican Munger is set to hand over the office to Democrat Susana Mendoza, who won a special election last month. Mendoza, the Chicago city clerk who takes the oath for her new office Monday, faces the prospect of going to court against her fellow Democrats on the paycheck issue.

Mendoza indicated she would maintain Munger's policy, with an asterisk.

"I was very clear on the issue of withholding legislators' pay during my campaign: Everyone needs to share in the sacrifice," Mendoza said in a statement Friday. "My policy will be to prioritize the most vulnerable people in our state and continue the delay in legislators' pay, unless a court instructs me to do otherwise."

In April, Munger, while seeking election, announced she would delay lawmaker paychecks, saying it was unfair that legislators got paid before nonprofits and small businesses that were left waiting because of the cash crunch caused by the budget stalemate.

The state's bill backlog stands at more than $10.3 billion, meaning lawmakers and thousands of businesses that contract with the state have been left waiting several months to be reimbursed for their services.

On Friday, the departing Munger slammed Democratic lawmakers for challenging her decision.

"How cowardly that they refused to challenge any action while I was in office, and now they are going to court when there will be a new administration taking office on Monday led by one of their own," Munger said. "Literally every dollar counts in our ability to fund critical services, so there's no words for my disgust and disappointment with this lawsuit."

Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and legislative leaders are set to resume budget talks again Thursday morning as a stopgap spending plan is set to expire at year's end, and the governor is laying out his terms before the meeting even begins.Facing continued resistance from Democratic House Speaker...

The 177 lawmakers receive a base salary of $67,836 for their part-time jobs, but most earn thousands more in stipends for serving in Democratic or Republican leadership positions, or acting as chairman of legislative committees. Total compensation for legislators is roughly $1.3 million a month.

Lawmakers last received their paychecks in August, which covered their May salaries. That means legislators have yet to be paid for June through November. Usually, lawmakers are paid on the last day of every month.

The legislators want a judge to require the comptroller to pay the salaries that have been withheld and issue their paychecks on the last day of each month as set in law. A judge could choose to order "additional relief" such as interest on back pay. The lawsuit would benefit all 177 lawmakers, regardless of their political party.

The Democrats who brought the suit are Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch, of Hillside; Reps. Mary Flowers, Sonya Harper and Silvana Tabares, of Chicago; Rep. Lisa Hernandez, of Cicero; and Rep. Kate Cloonen, of Kankakee, who lost a re-election bid last month and soon won't be collecting a lawmaker's paycheck. The others hold seats in safe Democratic districts and are unlikely to face much political blowback for the move.

The lawmakers' attorneys are Michael Kasper, a Democratic lawyer with long-standing Madigan ties, and Richard J. Prendergast, who was a lawyer for lawmakers who successfully sued Quinn after he froze legislative pay during a fight over pension legislation three years ago.